More than 100 people attended the vigil and many of them said they did not know Axel.
But they said they wanted to be there anyway because his death impacted the whole community.
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‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
‘Healing is now beginning’: Community holds vigil for 3-year-old Winter Springs boy found dead Support is pouring in for the family of a 3-year-old who drowned in a retention pond in Winter Springs. (WFTV/WFTV)
Velez was not the only one who searched for Axel. Later that day, divers from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office found his body in a retention pond.
Velez said he was devastated by the news.
“Any parent that’s ever lost their child for a matter of five minutes knows that that’s one of the scariest moments of your life,” he said. “And I just feel so sorry for this family that they didn’t end up finding him in time.”
The community will continue to support one another as they heal.
“The healing is now beginning,” a neighbor said.
The sheriff’s office said it doesn’t suspect foul play and that this was an unfortunate situation.
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